Public Health Scotland has warned there is currently a ‘high level’ of flu activity
Fiona Callingham Lifestyle writer
14:15, 17 Dec 2025
A doctor explained that an “overwhelming” symptom could mean you have flu(Image: Getty)
A healthcare expert has cautioned that one particularly “overwhelming” symptom strongly means you have flu rather than the common cold. The warning arrives amid rising flu infections across the UK.
The most recent statistics from Public Health Scotland show that there is currently a “high level” of flu activity. There has been a further 24 per cent increase in laboratory-confirmed cases in the most recent week recorded, rising from 1,875 to 2,331.
In footage posted on TikTok, Doctor Suraj Kukadia – better recognised by his online handle Dr Sooj – outlined several key differences between colds and influenza. He said: “Flu is not just a bad cold it’s caused by the influenza virus.
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“And yes it’s a viral illness, and it tends to hit you hard and fast, especially in the autumn and winter when people spend more time indoors with the windows and doors shut and people are coughing and spluttering and sneezing all over each other. And that helps the viruses spread much more quickly.”
Dr Sooj noted that symptoms can emerge quite suddenly. He described: “It usually comes on suddenly, so one day you might feel okay but the next day you might feel completely wiped out.”
Flu “usually comes on suddenly” a doctor said(Image: Getty)
Among the tell-tale signs is “overwhelming exhaustion”. “People will describe symptoms like fever, muscle aches, headaches, chills, and kind of like an overwhelming exhaustion,” he continued.
“It’s the kind of illness that will put you in bed, not the type of illness that you just kind of push through and carry on with your daily activities. A dry cough is common, and your everyday tasks may feel impossible.”
By comparison, a cold typically emerges more gradually. He elaborated: “It’s very different from a cold. So colds can creep up gradually, and primarily, they’ll cause a blocked nose or stuffy nose or runny nose, a sore throat, and they can even cause pressure in your ears.
Data shows cases of flu are rising in the UK(Image: Getty)
“You can also get a chestier cough with mucus, um, but you will probably feel rough, but you can still function.” Dr Sooj made clear that neither flu nor a cold requires antibiotic treatment.
He emphasised: “And remember that just having a chesty cough with mucus does not necessarily mean that you need antibiotics, because antibiotics will do absolutely nothing against the virus.”
Dr Sooj also highlighted the possible overlap between Covid symptoms and those associated with colds or flu. “Now, with Covid, you can get a bit of an overlap with colds and flues, but people will be more likely to lose their sense of taste, their sense of smell, or they may develop diarrhoea or an upset tummy,” he explained.
Specific groups across the UK are entitled to free Covid and flu vaccinations, which can lower the likelihood of serious illness. To check if you’re eligible, head to the NHS website here.